Major temperature plunge Tuesday

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Major temperature plunge Tuesday

Richmond, Va. (WTVR) – After warmer-than-average highs Saturday through Monday in the low to mid 70s, Tuesday is quite a shock to our senses! Average highs this time of year are typically about 63 degrees. But that’s where we were this morning just before a strong cold front swept through Richmond.

The temperature fell between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. about 15 degrees in the Richmond Metro! It was gusty, too, as the front continued to march southeast to the coast. Wind gusts reported in every hour after the cold frontal passage anywhere from 15 to 30 mph from the north.

Daylight, even though we’re overcast and still damp, is slowing the cold plunge the rest of today. But once the Sun sets, all bets are off, and temperatures should nose-dive into the low to mid 30s by early Wednesday morning.

So far today, the rainfall accumulations have been pretty low in central Virginia, with a tenth to a quarter-of-an-inch of rainfall in the Metro (0.12″ as of Noon Tuesday at Richmond International Airport). Rain will continue to taper off this afternoon from northwest to southeast.